Bucking in school but fine to hack - help!

[Colouredcob12]

Hello, new poster here!

i have my suspicions but would like some advice/other people’s experiences.

my horse is very good to hack, goes infront and behind canters fine good in traffic ears always forwards

Schooling he is completely different, tail swishing, threatening to buck, ears back and very lazy.

why would a horse be so good to hack but so bad in the school?

he acts in pain in the school, where do i start?

 

[nikicb]

Some horses will be ok riding in straight lines, but circles and being on a surface will exacerbate any lameness issues/arthritis etc. My starting point in your situation would be a proper work up with a vet.

 

[ycbm]

My horse was perfect to hack, bucked in the school in canter nearly a month ago, which was so unlike him I took him to hospital for a workup where we found deformed pastern bones and tendon/ligament strains in the hind feet just over 2 weeks ago.

I would say you need a vet for sure, and probably a performance workup. He might have ulcers but you still need to work out what caused them, as they are often a result of pain.
.

 

[saddlesore]

What age and height is he?

 

[Bobthecob15]

Lots of ponies are like this, they don't like the school at all. Often because they simply have to work harder or because they are in pain.. or both. Best check back, teeth, saddle first and have a chat with your vet. Do you have a good instructor?

 

[maya2008]

If fully schooled at some point in his life, and if the surface is good, I would say he’s got a soft tissue injury most likely.

If a wax surface, I don’t blame him - wax surfaces are horrible. If it is deep, same thing. Self preservation.

If young or green in the school, he could be stiff and finding it hard to bend. Or your instructions are not great and he is frustrated, or he is bored.

 

[sbloom]

Horses mask really well, the conditions of hacking - solid surfaces, company, "fun", no corners and less likely to be asked to work in an outline for example - mean pain is much more likely to show in the arena. Cobs are heavier and more likely to be on their forehand hence postural problems leading to compensatory movement patterns which lead to pain and lameness.

Equitopia Center has some great stuff on topline syndrome, thoracic sling problems etc and you can join cheaply.

 

[Colouredcob12]

Hi he is 16.3 5 yr old , very green and very stiff to the right. He pins ears and grinds teeth when you try to circle on the right rein.

i believe he is not quite right somewhere so will book investigations

 

[SEL]

Hi he is 16.3 5 yr old , very green and very stiff to the right. He pins ears and grinds teeth when you try to circle on the right rein.

i believe he is not quite right somewhere so will book investigations

Vet is the best starting point. If it's only apparent under saddle then make sure you ride for them or take a video. Keep us posted

 

[sbloom]

Stiffness in a young horse is most likely dysfunction, compensatory movement patterns. Vet first but a high chance they won't find much.

 

[saddlesore]

Hi he is 16.3 5 yr old , very green and very stiff to the right. He pins ears and grinds teeth when you try to circle on the right rein.

i believe he is not quite right somewhere so will book investigations

Have you had his teeth done recently?

 

[TheMule]

Hi he is 16.3 5 yr old , very green and very stiff to the right. He pins ears and grinds teeth when you try to circle on the right rein.

i believe he is not quite right somewhere so will book investigations

Idont think your horse could be telling you much more clearly that there's pain somewhere!

 

[ycbm]

Hi he is 16.3 5 yr old , very green and very stiff to the right. He pins ears and grinds teeth when you try to circle on the right rein.

i believe he is not quite right somewhere so will book investigations

Stiff to the right with those signs is an ulcer symptom.
.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Mine was poor on the right following an injury to his hock. I echo, vet.